Lena Lunsford was taken into custody by authorities in Pinellas County, Fla., where she is awaiting extradition on a charge of death of a child by a parent by child abuse, Lewis County, WV, Sheriff Adam Gissy told The Exponent Telegram.

Lena Lunsford was taken into custody by authorities in Pinellas County, Fla., where she is awaiting extradition on a charge of death of a child by a parent by child abuse, Lewis County, WV, Sheriff Adam Gissy told The Exponent Telegram.

If the flood of prescription painkillers in West Virginia fueled the state’s opioid crisis, new prescribing guidelines being taught to medical students, future pharmacists and nurses are seen as critical to stemming the tide. Earlier this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new guidelines to ensure patients have access to safer, more effective pain treatments while reducing the risk of opioid abuse.

If the flood of prescription painkillers in West Virginia fueled the state’s opioid crisis, new prescribing guidelines being taught to medical students, future pharmacists and nurses are seen as critical to stemming the tide. Earlier this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new guidelines to ensure patients have access to safer, more effective pain treatments while reducing the risk of opioid abuse.

Five years into her sobriety, Elly Donahue is more than willing to give credit where it’s due. “Drug court was my first step to recovery,” said Donahue, who graduated from drug court in 2013. “It’s what pushed me in that direction. I’d been in and out of rehab numerous times before, but drug court makes you accountable and responsible for your actions. It’s what I needed.”

Five years into her sobriety, Elly Donahue is more than willing to give credit where it’s due. “Drug court was my first step to recovery,” said Donahue, who graduated from drug court in 2013. “It’s what pushed me in that direction. I’d been in and out of rehab numerous times before, but drug court makes you accountable and responsible for your actions. It’s what I needed.”

Former Clay County Sheriff Miles J. Slack pleaded guilty Sept. 17 to illegal wiretapping after he placed a keystroke logging device on his then-wife's work computer at the Clay County Magistrate's office.

Slack, 47, appeared before U.S. District Judge John Copenhaver, where Slack admitted he attempted to monitor his ex wife's conversations.

He also wanted to get his ex wife's usernames and passwords, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney's office.

At the time of this monitoring, Slack and his wife were going through a divorce.

Slack, who resigned as sheriff last week after serving 16 years at the Clay County Sheriff's Department, faces up to five years in prison when he is sentenced at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 19.

"I do apologize to them and you know I have a lot of friends there," Slack told reporters after the hearing. "And I do apologize to them. They had -- they entrusted me with that unfortunately I went through a bad time."

After the hearing, U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin said he thought it was a shame the former sheriff violated the law.

"Elected officials and law enforcement are no different," Goodwin said. "They need to respect and follow the law and when they don't, there are consequences."

Slack's ex wife also released a statement after the plea hearing through her attorney, Daniel Armstrong. In the release, Armstrong asked that Slack's ex wife be referred to as L.S.

According to the statement, L.S. said she knew Slack would take responsibility for his actions but hopes he doesn't go to jail because resigning and living with the loss of respect would be enough punishment.

"I am relieved that Miles has taken responsibility for his actions today," the statement says. "I am saddened that Mile's wrongdoing has cost him the job as sheriff that he has wanted for years."